Susan La Flesche Picotte – First Native Physician
Susan La Flesche Picotte’s life is a remarkable narrative of breaking barriers and dedicating herself to the well-being of her people. Born on June 17, 1865, she distinguished herself as the first Native American woman in the United States to earn a medical degree, a testament to her intellect, resilience, and unwavering commitment to service. Her story unfolds against a backdrop of cultural transition and societal prejudice, highlighting her extraordinary journey and lasting impact.
Early Life and Education:
Susan La Flesche Picotte’s lineage was deeply rooted in the Omaha tribe. Her father, Chief Joseph La Flesche, also known as Iron Eye, was a progressive leader who recognized the importance of adapting to the changing world. His wife, Mary Gale, who was also of mixed heritage, shared this belief. Together, they raised their children to navigate both Native and white cultures, providing them with a unique perspective and the skills necessary to succeed in a rapidly evolving society.
Susan’s education began at a mission school on the Omaha reservation. These schools aimed to assimilate Native children into white culture, teaching them English, Western customs, and vocational skills. While assimilation was a controversial topic, Susan’s parents believed it was essential for their children’s future. This viewpoint aligned with the teachings of Chief Big Elk, a previous Omaha leader, who had long advocated for adapting to the white world to ensure the tribe’s survival. Chief La Flesche, educated in St. Louis and adopted by Big Elk, carried forward this message. Susan’s parents instilled in her a deep understanding of her Omaha heritage while also preparing her for the opportunities and challenges of the broader world, however they kept her from receiving an Omaha tribal name and any tribal markings.
The experiences Susan La Flesche Picotte witnessed during her early years on the reservation profoundly shaped her future path. She was exposed to the harsh realities of poverty, inadequate healthcare, and the devastating effects of disease. One particular incident, the death of a Native woman who was denied care by a white doctor, left an indelible mark on her and ignited a fire within her to become a healer for her people.
Following her initial education, Susan attended the Elizabeth Institute in New Jersey for two years, returning to the reservation in 1882 to teach at the agency school. In 1884, she furthered her studies at the Hampton Institute in Virginia. While there, she was encouraged to apply for a scholarship from the U.S. Office of Indian Affairs, which proved to be a pivotal moment in her life.
Medical Education and Training:
The scholarship from the U.S. Office of Indian Affairs opened doors for Susan La Flesche Picotte that were previously unimaginable. While many female graduates were expected to return to their reservations and become wives, Susan had a different vision for her future. She chose to pursue a medical degree at the Woman’s Medical College of Pennsylvania, one of the few institutions on the East Coast that accepted women as students in the late 19th century.
The Woman’s Medical College provided Susan with a rigorous and comprehensive medical education. She studied a wide range of subjects, including chemistry, pharmaceutical science, obstetrics, anatomy, histology, and general medicine. Despite facing the challenges of being a woman in a male-dominated field and the pervasive racism of the time, Susan excelled in her studies.
Susan La Flesche Picotte thrived in the demanding academic environment, demonstrating exceptional intelligence and a strong work ethic. She overcame prejudice and proved her capabilities, earning the respect of her professors and peers. On March 14, 1889, she graduated at the top of her class as valedictorian, a remarkable achievement that shattered stereotypes and paved the way for future generations of Native American women in medicine. After graduation, she completed a year-long internship in Pennsylvania, gaining valuable practical experience before returning to her people.
Service on the Omaha Reservation:
Upon completing her medical training, Susan La Flesche Picotte returned to the Omaha reservation to serve as the attending physician at the government boarding school. She was responsible for the health and well-being of the students, teaching them about hygiene and providing medical care. However, her dedication extended far beyond the school, as she also cared for members of the wider community.
Susan La Flesche Picotte quickly became the preferred doctor on the reservation, earning the trust and respect of the Omaha people. Her white counterpart eventually resigned, leaving her as the sole physician responsible for an area spanning over 1,300 square miles. She tirelessly traveled from house to house, often on foot in the harsh Nebraska weather, and later by horseback and buggy, providing medical care to those in need.
Despite her education and unwavering commitment, Susan La Flesche Picotte faced challenges and resistance. Tensions created by her father’s advocacy for assimilation had divided the Omaha tribe, and some members rejected her diagnosis due to these divisions. She was also paid a meager salary of $500 a year and often had to purchase her own supplies when the Bureau of Indian Affairs ran out. Despite these hardships, she persevered, driven by her deep sense of responsibility to her people. The Women’s National Indian Association supplemented her income with $250 for her work as a medical missionary.
Marriage, Family, and Continued Service:
In 1893, the demanding schedule and arduous conditions of her work took a toll on Susan La Flesche Picotte‘s health, forcing her to take a two-month break after falling from a horse. In 1894, she married Henry Picotte, a Sioux man from South Dakota, and the couple moved to Bancroft, Nebraska. Here, she established a private practice, serving both white and Native patients. The couple had two sons, Caryl, born in 1895, and Pierre, in 1896.
Despite the societal expectations for women to stay at home and raise children, Susan La Flesche Picotte continued to practice medicine, balancing her professional and family responsibilities. Her husband’s struggles with alcoholism and the prevalence of alcohol abuse among her tribe led her to become involved in the Temperance Movement. After Henry’s death in 1905, she led a delegation to Washington D.C. in 1906 to lobby for the prohibition of alcohol on Indian lands. She became a controversial figure, however, due to her support of the Peyote Religion, a Native American religious movement that incorporated the use of peyote in spiritual practices.
After her husband’s death, she had to battle the Bureau of Indian Affairs to prove she was more competent than her brother-in-law to oversee her husband’s estate, which included 185 acres of land in South Dakota for her sons. After the matter was settled in her favor, she invested money from the estate and the sale of the land into rental properties to support her family.
Later Life and Legacy:
In 1910, Susan La Flesche Picotte returned to Washington D.C. to argue that while most Omaha tribesmen were competent to manage their own affairs, the Indian Office had prevented them from learning business skills and assimilation, leaving them vulnerable to fraud. She believed that the Federal Government should continue to act as a guardian for those who needed it. This stance stemmed from her opposition to consolidating the Omaha and Winnebago tribes.
Susan La Flesche Picotte continued to advocate for the well-being of her tribe and saw her dream of a reservation hospital become a reality in 1913 with its construction in Walthill, Nebraska. However, her health was declining, and she succumbed to what is believed to be bone cancer on September 15, 1915. She was buried in the Bancroft Cemetery near her parents, sisters, and older half-brother, Francis La Flesche, a renowned Native American ethnologist, anthropologist, and musicologist who focused on Omaha and Osage culture.
Her son Caryl served in World War II and eventually settled in Detroit, Michigan. Her other son, Pierre, lived in Walthill, where he raised a family of three children. The hospital in Walthill was named the "Dr. Susan La Flesche Picotte Memorial Hospital" and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1993, cementing her legacy as a pioneer in medicine and a champion for the Omaha people.